Let's talk about shopping....

When shopping do you prefer the self self-checkout lane or do you prefer a cashier and why?
I always go to the cashier. I never use the self checkouts because to me they are taking a job away from somebody and we need the jobs with the unemployment rate as high as it it. I also figure why should I do all the work of scanning my stuff and bagging it and pay the same price. Shouldn't I get a discount for doing all the work?

I wonder if stores will ever get to a point where all that will remain is self checkout lanes. It might save them a great deal of money as they won't have to hire cashiers anymore. But then it takes jobs away from people who need it. And that's not a good thing.

I've always thought that too . . . why aren't I getting some kind of discount for doing it myself. I guess they say they can keep store prices lower by folks using self checkout - but I don't know about that. There are employees around looking over our shoulders anyway. The only times I've gone through self checkout is when the regular lines were super long . . . otherwise I prefer going to a cashier . . . shopping in and out without any hassles!

@Fleura I should have mentioned too that I will only bother going to the self checkout if I have a few items that are no hassle items. At the grocery store, I don't want to have to weigh my produce or look up item numbers and such . . . I know a cashier can do it way faster than I ever could. Overall, it feels "clumsy" and also I feel pressured to hurry up if there are more people waiting to use the self checkout.

@much2say Those machines hate me as much as I hate them. They always claim I have an 'unexpected item in the bagging area' or tell me to scan things again or put them down in a different place or whatever. It always ends up with a staff member standing beside me putting in their control key to over-ride every step of the way. I tried a couple of times, then I thought perhaps the problems occurred when I had a reduced item or something, but no, they just set out to be patronising and treat me like an idiot. Trying to use one makes me so mad it spoils my entire day, I swear I will never use ne ever again, even if I live to be 100!

I agree. I don't use self-checkout unless I have no choice in the matter. Before 7 AM there aren't any cashiers available. I try to get there after 7 so there are at least two cashiers available at Wal-Mart.

@NJChicaa well that is a good point! and very kind of you! yes those people need their jobs. Plus some of them are very nice. and it's nice seeing a real human when you shop.. instead of just a lifeless computer

I always go to a cashier too. I have tried the self-checkout machines but they are so maddening with their stupid instructions that using one not only makes a simple shopping trip much more difficult, it actually spoils my entire day! In fact just writing about them makes me angry!

It works out the same actually. You walk towards self checkout, then some jobs are lost, the organization makes profit, it starts another store, new jobs are created. Unemployment can be reduced by creating jobs or reducing the number of mouths to feed.

I tried the self ones at Walmart awhile back, had to ask for help, and that proved to be too much hassle. So I went over to a cashier. I ran into a problem because I had my own bag and wasn't using one from the store. The machine shut down because it didn't "recognize" my bag. The cashier came over and said, "Oh, you didn't push this button." Well, how was I supposed to know that? That was the end of my career as a "self cashier."